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Unit 10: The indefinite article - in 90 seconds
Learn the most common sound in English to improve your pronunciation!

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  1. 1Go beyond intermediate with our new video course
  2. 2Reported speech in 90 seconds!
  3. 3If or whether?
  4. 45 ways to use 'would'
  5. 5Let and allow
  6. 6Passive voice
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  8. 8Mixed conditionals
  9. 9The zero article - in 90 seconds
  10. 10The indefinite article - in 90 seconds
  11. 11The. That's right - the! Learn all about it in 90 seconds
  12. 12The continuous passive
  13. 13Future perfect
  14. 14Need + verb-ing
  15. 15Have something done
  16. 16Wish
  17. 17Word stress
  18. 18Different ways of saying 'if'
  19. 19Passive reporting structures
  20. 20The subjunctive
  21. 21When and if
  22. 22Inversion
  23. 23Phrasal verbs
  24. 24The future
  25. 25Modals in the past
  26. 26Narrative tenses
  27. 27Phrasal verb myths
  28. 28Conditionals review
  29. 29Used to - review
  30. 30Linking words of contrast

Session 5

At The White Elephant restaurant, something is making Gordon angrier than usual. What is it that's driving him up the wall? Watch and learn some useful everyday phrases related to being angry.

Wayiitiwwan marii boqonnaa kana keessaa

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    Activity 1
  1. Activity 1

Activity 1

Drama: The White Elephant

Episode 10: Angry

Gordon, the chef, is usually an angry man but something in the kitchen has made him angrier than usual. Who can calm him down and get him cooking again before another customer disappears?

Vidiyoo daawwadhuuti shaakala kana xumuri

Barreeffama agarsiisiBarreeffama dhoksi

Gordon
That's it... I've had it up to here.

Ceilia
Gordon, you seem angrier than normal?

Gordon
How can I work in these conditions? With stuff everywhere and the noise - it is driving me up the wall! Why can't I work in a professional kitchen like I used to?

Ceilia
Because you got the sack.

Gordon
We had creative differences that's all. 

Ceilia
OK, OK... but don't blow a fuse.

Gordon
Anyway I'm fed up to the back teeth with it, I've had enough.

Peter
Oh, he's like a bear with a sore head!

Mary
Yes he does seem to be at the end of his tether. Ceilia, have you got anybody else who can do the cooking tonight?

Ceilia
No! The stand-by chef has got shingles. We can't be open today without a chef.

Peter
I could have a go - I cooked a pizza once - although it was a frozen one from the supermarket.

Mary
It's OK Peter, I'll go and talk to him.

Gordon
I'm sorry for losing it. I just wanted to let you know how I felt.

Ceilia
We understand... OK are you ready to start preparing food?

Gordon
Yes, of course. I'm going to make one of my special beef Wellingtons.

Ceilia
What did you say to him?

Mary
I just told him that a very important food critic had booked a table here tonight and might be writing about his food.

Ceilia
But we don't have any reservations tonight do we?

Mary
He doesn't need to know that!

Download

You can download the drama from our Unit 10 downloads page.

Vocabulary

I've had it up to here
I have suffered enough because of something or someone

it's driving me up the wall
it's making me very angry

don't blow a fuse!
don't lose your temper

fed up to the back teeth
angry because a situation has continued for too long

like a bear with a sore head!
in a very bad mood

at the end of his tether
so annoyed he can't carry on

losing it
becoming very angry or upset

To do

See how much you understood from the story by answering these questions...

White Elephant quiz

3 Questions

How much did you understand in The White Elephant: Episode 10?

Baga gammadde! Qormaata xumurteetta
Excellent!Great job!Carraa badaa!Qabxii argatte:
x / y

Credits

Gordon Grater: Neil Frost

Ceilia Spatula: Amina Zia

Peter Peppermill: Darren Benedict

Marigold Marcelo (Mary for short): Stacha Hicks

Written, produced and directed by: Rob Carter

More

You can find our other BBC Learning English dramas on our Drama page.

End of Session 5

Next time, everyone celebrates Mary's success except Gordon who thinks nobody is more successful than he is. Find out his reasons in the next episode.

Caasluga kutaa kanaa

Wabii caasluga guutuu agarsiisi

Session Vocabulary

  • I've had it up to here
    I have suffered enough because of something or someone

    it's driving me up the wall
    it's making me very angry

    don't blow a fuse!
    don't lose your temper

    fed up to the back teeth
    angry because a situation has continued for too long

    like a bear with a sore head!
    in a very bad mood

    at the end of his tether
    so annoyed he can't carry on

    losing it
    becoming very angry or upset

Wabii jechoota guutuu agarsiisi

Wiirtuu gadi-buufatan

Qabiyyee koorsiiwwan dhihoo kanaa